Rain Dragon Stones and Gifts stocked with spirit

TAMPA - If your cleaning routine isn't complete without smudging, Rain Dragon Stones and Gifts has bundled sage for that purpose, as well as other spiritual goods ranging from wooden crosses to colorful, polished stones that resonate with people who attach significance of a higher order to them.

"Whatever your belief is, it's safe to express it here," said the Busch Boulevard shop's owner, Bibi Moore, 56, a native of Guyana who moved here as a teenager in the early 1970s.

While Moore's product line is esoteric, the existence of Rain Dragon, at 4236 E. Busch Blvd., came about in part because she is a practical-minded real estate agent.

Her husband, Mark, was using the building as storage for the family's computer sales and service business next door, TBMI Computers.

A fresh coat of purple paint and a metaphysical inventory transformed the space into a store about two years ago, and Moore envisions Rain Dragon also becoming a gathering place for the surrounding community.

Moore's invitation extends to groups needing a free place to meet. She especially favors organizations with an educational bent.

"We'd be interested in any kind of class that would benefit other people," she said.

Moore said she hopes to organize field trips to supplement the workshops and classes held at her store.

The store's shelves are stocked with oils, incense, jewelry, clothing and tapestries. And people seeking one-on-one guidance can find it at Rain Dragon; spiritual advisors routinely offer their services at the shop.

The store is open Wednesdays through Fridays, 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.